Meeting: Permission granted with riders

***Police conducting checking in the city a day before the public meeting called by pro-ILP ngos- Pix by WT Lytan***

Shillong, November 29: East Khasi hills deputy commissioner Sanjay Goyal granted permission to the pro Inner-Line Permit (ILP) ngos to hold a public meeting on Saturday at the Students’ Field in Jaiaw with a rider that they should shoulder the responsibility to ensure that unwanted elements and incidents do not come in conflict with the law of the land.

Goyal told reporters on Friday afternoon, “It is the responsibility of the organisers to ensure that unwanted elements do not disturb law and order.”.

Goyal said as holding public rally is a democratic right, he also added that the district administration expects that the norms of democracy will not be disturbed. He said, “Democratic rights should be respected and the onus of ensuring the exercise of this right in a democratic and peaceful manner ‘definitely’ lies with the organizations who are seeking permissions for such public meetings.”

The permission for hold the meeting has been granted between 11am to 3 pm.

Goyal also said that the organizers must ensure that weapon like knife, rods or any other lethal weapons are allowed to be taken inside the venue by anti-social elements which may vitiate the atmosphere inside or outside the venue that may lead to breach of law and order.

Goyal also warned that any untoward incident which may happen before, after and during the meeting leading to breach of peace and public tranquillity would be the sole responsibility of the organizers and they would be liable for legal action as per law.

Friday's checking before the Saturday's public meeting. Pix by WT Lytan — ***Friday’s checking before the Saturday’s public meeting. Pix by WT Lytan***

Goyal also put conditions that the organizer should instruct the speakers in the meeting not to indulge in any inflammatory speech with a mala-fide intention to incite the crowd which may lead to communal unrest and breach of peace and public tranquillity. He said, “We have directed the organizer to strictly ensure that there should not be any disruption to normal flow of vehicular traffic and pedestrians including the school and college going students.”

After the meeting Goyal said the organisers must ensure that crowd dispersed peacefully from the venue without holding any procession. He categorically said, “Procession of any kind will not be allowed before or after the public meeting.”- By Our Reporter